By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man was charged with having crystal meth after an early-morning traffic stop this week.

Johnny Allen Stewart, 31, of the 300 block of Wiley Lane, was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance Schedule II, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor carrying a concealed weapon.

Officers with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office had a license checkpoint set up Monday at Stokes Ferry and St. Peter’s Church Road after a number of reckless driving incidents in the area. A Toyota Tacoma pickup approached the intersection. When the driver rolled the window down, the officer could smell marijuana, a Sheriff’s Office report said.

The driver, identified as Kerry Bowers, was not charged, but deputies charged a passenger, Johnny Stewart.

Officers searched the driver and passenger. They found two syringes on Stewart. A report said Stewart initially told them he had nothing in his pockets.

A small bag of crystal meth was found on the floorboard of the passenger’s side, the report said.

Officers also found a knife in the floorboard of the passenger’s side.

Stewart was issued a $2,000 secured bond. He has since been released from the Rowan County Detention Center.